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BLOG TOUR: Watch Them Disappear by Carla Kovac (Detective Gina Harte, Book 19)

Publised September 21st, 2026 by Bookouture
Thriller, Mystery, Crime Fiction, Suspense, Police Procedural, Crime Series, Noir Fiction, Romance Novel

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The house where she lives alone lies dark and empty, her bed still perfectly made. Her car waits in the carpark, her phone unanswered. Mindy Carson has vanished into thin air…

When Ursula leaves work for the evening, she’s shocked to see her friend’s car still parked nearby. Happy-go-lucky dog groomer Mindy left for home ages ago. Something is desperately wrong. On the window is an unmistakable smear of blood.

As police visit Mindy’s home on the outskirts of town, everything looks in order, until they notice the small red light in the corner of her bedroom. Then another, and another. There are cameras watching her every move…

Unpacking Mindy’s life piece by piece, police start to wonder whether Ursula knows more than she’s letting on. Had she found out about her husband’s secret messages to Mindy? Who was the person behind the cameras, watching Mindy’s most private moments? And was the local teenager making Mindy’s life hell really the last person to see her?

When the body of a young woman is found in a local park, police fear they are too late to save Mindy. And when another person is reported missing, it’s clear she isn’t the only one being watched. Does the killer have another victim in their sights? And can they catch them before another life disappears forever?

Prepare to be absolutely hooked by the latest nail-biting thriller from bestselling author Carla Kovach. Perfect for fans of Rachel Abbott, Angela Marsons and Karin Slaughter.

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Mindy left work hours ago, so Ursula is surprised to find her car still parked nearby. And when she sees the smear of blood on the window, she knows something bad has happened to her friend. Detective Gina Harte and her team are called in to investigate. At Mindy’s house they notice cameras hidden in her fire alarms. Someone has been secretly watching Mindy. Does Ursula know more than she’s admitting? As they race to find Mindy, a woman’s body is found in the park. Are they too late? And when another person is reported missing, they are worried that the killer has their sights set on another victim. Can they catch them before they kill again?

Carla Kovach’s Gina Harte series has been one of my favourite police procedurals for years. She always delivers a first-class thriller filled with great characters, menacing crimes, important topics and recurring characters I love returning to time and again. And this latest installment is her best yet. Nail-biting, twisty and addictive, Carla had me in a chokehold from start to finish. And this time she’s exploring the damaging effect of revenge porn and the dangerous allure of the dark web. On the lighter side of things, I really enjoyed seeing Gina happy again in her new relationship. But that ending! Carla, how could you. You totally broke my heart and I don’t think I’ll get over what happened.

One of Carla’s skills is writing fantastic characters who are flawed and real. She has created some brilliant characters in this story, including Mindy, Ursula, Brian and Tabitha. I was rooting for Mindy to be found before it was too late, but as time ticked by I worried they wouldn’t find her in time. Teenage siblings Brian and Tabitha brought out my maternal side and I just wanted to reach into the book to protect them from themselves. But the most memorable character from this book has to be the man in the Morph mask. This man was utterly terrifying but I loved reading the chapters from his perspective. As I read his sinister thoughts and plans I was holding my breath wondering if Gina and her team could find him before he was able to complete his terrible scheme. 

Highly recommended.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Bookouture for the invitation to take part in the blog tour and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Carla has been writing seriously since her mid-thirties. She started by writing stage plays which led to her producing and directing her own full length piece of theatre. After that, she decided to write films and books where she began by self-publishing. In the past, she has acted in a few indie films and has also co-owned a photography and video production company.

Right now, she is a full time crime and thriller author living in Worcester with her husband, Nigel and Poppy the cat.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.

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BLOG TOUR: Pride, Prejudice and Peril by Jessica Bull

Publised September 17th, 2026 by Michael Joseph
Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Crime Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Cozy Mystery

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Jane Austen is preparing for the summer season.

As guests of their wealthy relatives Mr and Mrs Leigh-Perrot, Jane and her sister Cassandra will be holidaying in Bath Spa – the world-famous health resort, and more importantly, the epicentre of the marriage mart.

For many, the summer will be spent hunting husbands. But for Jane, when a series of murders breaks out across the city, she must chase down a killer instead.

With her beloved sister by her side, Jane is determined to bring the murderer to justice. Can she stop this villain from taking any more victims, before the summer ends? Or will her only dance of the season be with death…

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

October 1799. Jane and her sister Cassandra are staying with their wealthy aunt and uncle in Bath Spa – a place famous for healing health and the epicentre of the marriage mart. But Jane isn’t interested in either of those things. She is here to try and forge links to the literary world. However, things soon take a very different turn when her aunt is accused of theft and a gentleman’s body is pulled from the River Avon. There is a mystery waiting to be solved and Jane and Cassandra are on the case. Soon, they find links between the two cases and a mysterious man named Mr. Rex who is trying to blackmail them. Who is Mr. Rex? And how did he discover their secrets? Can they find him and stop him before he claims another victim?

Charming, witty and uplifting, we’re back with another delightful whodunnit featuring amateur detective Jane Austen. Exquisitely written, cleverly crafted and richly imagined, Jessica Bull transports us back in time and immerses us in Jane’s world, where there always seems to be a new mystery that needs to be solved. In this installment there are a number of different investigations at first, but it soon becomes clear there are links between them. The cases are cryptic and complex, with many threads to unravel and a multitude of suspects, but our intrepid heroine doesn’t give up and eventually puts all the pieces of the puzzle together. 

Jane is a fabulous protagonist. Intelligent and feisty, she knows exactly what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. I love how she rallies against societal norms, pursuing a career in literature instead of settling down and finding a husband. One of my favourite things about this series is Jane’s bonds with her siblings, particularly the close bond between Jane and her elder sister, Cassandra, who often helps Jane in her investigations. In this book their bond seems closer than ever and I loved watching them work together. They are very different, but those differences compliment one another and help them as they try to solve a case. 

So if you’re looking for a cosy mystery that is also an absolute riot, this is the book for you.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

Thanks to Vic at Insta Book Tours for the invitation to take part in the blog tour and Michael Joseph for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jessica Bull lives in South East London with her husband and two daughters. A former librarian and communications consultant, she studied English literature at Bristol University and information science at City, University of London. Miss Austen Investigates, her debut novel, was published in 2024. Pride, Prejudice and Peril is her fourth book.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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BLOG TOUR: A House in Winter by Emily Hourican

Publised September 3rd, 2026 by Eriu
Historical Fiction, Biographical Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Set in January 1965, A House in Winter tells the story of the visit of Princess Margaret and Lord Snowden to his sister’s home in Abbeyleix, Ireland, when they faced local opposition and IRA petrol bomb attacks that confined them, without electricity, for 48 fraught hours.

As well as the conflict outside the walls, there’s plenty within, with Margaret’s difficult mother in law gleefully contributing to her disintegrating marriage. Meanwhile in the nearby village local woman Cait has struggles of her own, unable to escape family responsibilities and small town life.

Inspired by real events, A House in Winter is an atmospheric and richly observed novel about duty, marriage and the different forms of captivity. Blending royal intrigue with compelling Irish community drama, it will appeal to readers of The Crown, Wendy Holden’s The Duchess, Daisy Goodwin’s Victoria and the warm, character-driven storytelling of Maeve Binchy.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Told from multiple points of view, at its heart this is a book about two very different women caught up in the same event. Set in 1965, it takes us to County Laois, Ireland where Princess Margaret and her husband, Lord Snowden (Anthony Armstrong-Jones) are staying in Abbeyleix House with his sister Susan, Viscountess de Vesci, and her husband John, Viscount de Vesci. Cait is an ordinary Irish girl struggling to make ends meet while running her family shop and caring for her sick mother. Though the pair never meet, their lives collide over the course of the few days the princess is in town. Cait is there with other well-wishers to greet the royal couple when they arrive. But there are also hostile elements at the gate protesting their presence. Margaret is dismissive of the threat the IRA pose, but on the night of January 8th 1965, petrol bombs were thrown over the house’s walls, hitting the electricity transformer and leaving those inside Abbeyleix, and many surrounding houses, without electricity for forty-eight hours. The story follows both women over the course of those hours as they try to deal with the fall-out of the attack and wait for the perpetrators to be caught. 

I love a book that is based on a true story. So as soon as I read the description of this book I jumped at the chance to read it and be on the blog tour. Claustrophobic, transportive and compelling, Emily Hourican had me in her thrall from start to finish. Beautifully written, meticulously researched and evocatively told, Emily pours so much depth and humanity onto these pages. It wasn’t an easy read at times, exploring themes including toxic marriage, post natal depression, dysfunctional family relationships, grief, chronic illness and extremism. I lived every moment alongside these characters and enjoyed how Ms. Hourican showcased that no matter who we are, our lives all contain struggles alongside the triumphs, and that even a princess who seems to have it all can feel like a bird trapped in a cage. Beautifully written, meticulously researched and filled with evocative imagery, I couldn’t put this one down once I’d started and read it in under a day.

The characters are so well written. I loved how Princess Margaret felt like a real, three-dimensional person who I could connect with rather than a caricature. And I loved Cait. I was rooting for them both and hoping they’d find their way  to a happier life where they were no longer trapped by duty. And though she’s a terrible person, I loved reading Anne, Tony’s mother, as she was just so well written and entertaining. But I couldn’t stand Tony. He was an awful man who treated his wife terribly and served as a sad reminder that not even being a princess can protect you from being ensnared by an abuser.

A riveting piece of historical fiction that is not to be missed. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part in this blog tour and to Eriu for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Emily Hourican is a journalist and author. She has written features for the Sunday Independent for 15 years, as well as Image magazine, Condé Nast Traveler and Woman and Home. She was also editor of three magazines. Her debut novel, THE PRIVILEGED, was shortlisted for the 2016 Irish Book Awards in the Best Commercial Fiction. Emily was born in Belfast, grew up in Brussels, and went to school in University College Dublin, where she earned a Masters in English Literature. She lives in Dublin with her husband and three children.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliohphiles xxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.

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BLOG TOUR: Maybe The World Will End So We Won’t Have To by Natasha Bell

Published September 1st, 2026 by Renard Press Ltd
Literary Fiction, Metafiction, Autoficiton

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Author Harry is divorced, depressed, out of contract and unsure what she wants to do with the rest of her life. She invents a character Natalie – a braver, bolder version of herself – whom she begins channelling in small ways in her own life.

A metafictional tour de force, Maybe the World Will End So We Won’t Have To is a finely crafted literary autofiction about identity, sexuality and the work that goes into writing a novel. Brilliantly queer and feminist, and by turns funny and dark, it leaves us questioning the practice and ethics of being a writer.

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Author Harry is flailing. She’s depressed, her divorce is about to be finalised, she’s out of contract, doesn’t know what to write next and doesn’t know what she wants to do with the rest of her life. Then she gets an idea: what if she wrote about her life but made it fictional. So, she invents Natalie – a braver and bolder version of herself – and begins to write her story. 

This book was like nothing I’ve ever read before. Original, moving, thought-provoking and compelling, Natasa Bell has crafted a truly memorable story. A story about identity, sexuality, relationships, mental health and what it takes to write a novel, Natasha explores some dark and difficult topics such as domestic abuse, grooming murder and homophobia that she writes with honesty, wit and compassion. 

Like most bibliophiles, I’m a sucker for a book about books, and writing, books, fiction and publishing are a big part of this story. Like the author, her characters Harry and Natalie are writers, and there is a lot of discussion about how hard it is to write a book. We see Harry struggle with writer’s block, pour out her heart onto the page, wrestle with self-doubt and celebrate wonderful things. Lots of female authors are name-dropped and talked about, which made my TBR even longer than it already is. So be prepared!  

The characters are compelling and I particularly bonded with Harry. I didn’t always like her or agree with her actions, but I was rooting for her and invested in her life. Because of the unusual metafiction style, it was a little confusing at first and took me a bit of time to get into. But once I did I was glued to the pages and eager to know what lay in store for Harry and Natalie. And what lay in store was quite the emotional rollercoaster that I was not prepared for. And that ending! How could you leave it there! I was not ready for that and don’t think I’ll get over it for quite some time. 

Rating: ✮✮✮.5

Thank you to Renard Press for the invitation to take part in the blog tour and my copy of the book.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Natasha (she/her) grew up in Somerset and studied English Literature, Theatre and the Humanities at the University of York, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of Chicago. Over-educated and entirely unemployable she spent her twenties living in York, writing TV listings and working as a barista and a projectionist. 

She moved to London for her thirties and completed an MA and PhD in Creative Writing at Goldsmiths. She currently lives in Southwark with her wife and son.

She offers editing and mentoring services privately as well as via The Riff Raff and Jericho Writers, and teaches for Faber Academy, City Lit and on Jericho’s Ultimate Novel Writing Course.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The Art of Getting Hammered by Joanna Wallace

Published August 6th, 2026 by Viper Books
Dark Comedy, Suspense, Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

* FROM THE AWARD WINNING AUTHOR OF YOU’D LOOK BETTER AS A GHOST *

‘The gold standard of twisted crime fiction’ – JANICE HALLETT
‘Dark humour at its absolute finest’ – J.M. HEWITT
‘Literature’s most relatable serial killer’ – JO FURNISS

MURDER IS HER MASTERPIECE.

What use is a part-time serial killer who doesn’t want to kill people? Once the terror of rude and irritating people everywhere, now Claire has lost her murderous mojo. Not even the overly chatty woman in the supermarket or the man who stole her neighbour’s dog can motivate her to get out the zip ties.

Then a lucky break and a new job in the local pub gives Claire the perfect target: someone is spiking drinks and causing mayhem. But as Claire closes in on the culprit, punters start dropping like flies – and for once she’s not the one doing the killing. Is someone else murdering on her patch? Claire has questions. And she’s not afraid to use her hammer to get answers…

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

“Nobody’s ordinary. Everyone’s got something interesting about them. Even if it’s just the part of themselves they try to hide.”

Artist and part-time serial killer Claire has lost her murderous mojo and is itching to get it back. But nothing is helping. Not until she takes a job at the local pub and notices suspicious activity: patrons are stumbling out drunker than they should be and the regulars appear to be dropping like flies. But Claire isn’t the one killing them. Is another killer operating on her patch? She needs answers. And she isn’t afraid to kill to get them…

Joanna Wallace is back with another gripping and brilliantly titled tale. With a name like that how could I not pick up this book? It holds so much promise. And, believe me, it delivered. Darkly funny, delightfully unhinged, tense and twisty, I devoured this addictive thriller in just two sittings. The writing is scalpel-sharp, hilarious and compelling, keeping me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. And though it’s a follow-up to You’d Look Better As A Ghost – and I’d recommend reading that because it’s absolutely brilliant – this can be read as a standalone. 

I love Claire. She is one of the best female serial killers in fiction today – think Rhiannon from Sweetpea with an artistic streak and an even stronger code for killing. Claire kills annoying people. But only when they appear as ghosts. And she hasn’t been seeing any ghosts recently, no matter how much people have wound her up. I loved this dilemma of a serial killer so restricted by her own code that she couldn’t murder the people she wanted to. I loved how she even considered a different rule so that she could start using her hammer again but that events came together for her ghostly apparitions to return so she could once again carry out her murderous exploits. The other characters are charismatic and memorable and I loved trying to figure out who the other killer might be. The chapters from the mysterious murderer’s point of view were fantastic, dropping little clues like breadcrumbs that I was absolutely terrible at following. And I loved that as it meant I was totally flawed when the big reveal happened.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Viper Books for the invitation to take part in the blog tour and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Joanna Wallace studied Law at Birmingham University before working as a commercial litigation solicitor in London. She now runs a family business and lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband, four children and dog. She was partly inspired to write You’d Look Better as a Ghost, her debut, following her father’s diagnosis of early onset dementia. Joanna’s second novel, The Dead Friend Project, was published by Viper in 2024.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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BLOG BLAST: Dead Heat by Sabine Durrant

Published July 30th, 2026 by Penguin UK
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psycological Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Former journalist Matt Grimshaw’s life is at a low ebb. He’s been ‘let go’ by the paper where he’s worked for years, and his relationship with his long-term girlfriend has come unstuck.

So when an invitation arrives from his two closest friends, Celia and Adam Murphy, to join them at their house in Greece, he jumps at it.

It may be harsh and unwelcoming on the Mani Peninsula but Matt determines to stay there for the whole summer and to write his much put-off screen-play.

But then the Murphys plus children arrive, and a wealthy newcomer to the area starts throwing loud and lavish parties in his big house across the bay.

As the nights become hotter and the parties wilder, everyone’s motivations darken. Envy rises, resentments grow – until a terrible accident stops the summer in its tracks.

At least, it looks like an accident…

Set over one blazing Mediterranean summer, Sabine Durrant’s new thriller is tense, claustrophobic and utterly gripping.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

After being dumped by both his long-term girlfriend and his job, former journalist Matt Grimshaw heads to Sparta to stay with his best friend, Adam, and his wife, Celia, to lick his wounds and begin work on his screenplay. But his idyllic summer in the sun takes a mysterious turn when he spots a missing poster for a man named Mark Ashley and gets talking to his worried sister. Matt feels sure there is something more to Mark’s disappearance. When he meets Rey, the wealthy newcomer to the island who Mark worked for, Matt gets a sense that he can’t be trusted. Could Rey know more about the disappearance than he’s letting on? Matt has to know, so he starts his own investigation, determined to uncover the truth about what happened to Mark. But is he prepared for the secrets he will uncover along the way?

Tense, twisty and claustrophobic, this is the perfect escapist summer thriller. Skillfully written and cleverly choreographed, Sabine Durrant tells the story so evocatively that I was transported to Sparta and could feel the sun beating down on me as I read. The tension builds slowly, and I’ll admit there were times at the beginning where my attention waned a little, but it soon picks up, surrounding us with a dark atmosphere that is nail-bitingly tense. I love a locked-room thriller, and as the story goes on the claustrophobia of being trapped on a small island while not knowing who you can trust was perfect, ramping up the suspense and keeping me on the edge of my seat as I waited to learn the truth.

Matt is a likeable narrator who is easy to root for. And I do enjoy an amateur detective so it was fun to get behind his investigation. I liked Celia but her Adam, her husband and Matt’s best friend, really gave me the ick. Like Matt, I didn’t get a good vibe from Rey but I also couldn’t predict what had actually happened and was kept guessing right up until the big reveal.

A scorching and suspenseful summer thriller, add this to your TBR now.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Compulsive Reads for the invitation to take Part in this blog blast and to Penguin UK for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sabine Durrant is a journalist and the author of the best-selling HAVING IT AND EATING IT and the CONNIE PICKLES series of children’s books. Her first psychological suspense novel, UNDER YOUR SKIN, was published by Hodder in the UK and Simon & Schuster in the US in 2014. Her second, REMEMBER ME THIS WAY, was also published by Hodder in the UK and Simon & Schuster in the US in 2015. Both novels have been translated into more than 12 languages. Her third novel, LIE WITH ME, a Richard & Judy pick and Sunday Times bestseller, was published in July 2016. TAKE ME IN was published by Mulholland Books in June 2018. FINDERS, KEEPERS was published by Hodder & Stoughton in July 2020.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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BLOG TOUR: The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Glenn Dixon

Published July 30th, 2026 by Faber & Faber
Domestic Ficiton, Science Fiction, Humorous Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘And that’s why I want to be called Scout’
‘It’s most unusual, said Clock.
‘She’s the one who listens and learns,’ Scout said. ‘She’s like me.’ She paused and set her voice to pensive. ‘You already have names. I’d like one too.’

In a self-running smart house, a young sentient hoover listens as her owner, Harold, reads aloud to his dying wife, Edie. Mesmerized by To Kill a Mockingbird and craving human connection, the little vacuum renames herself Scout and embarks on a journey of self-discovery.

But when Edie passes away, Scout and her fellow appliances discover that the omnipresent Grid, which monitors every household in the City, wants to displace Harold from the home he’s lived in for fifty years. With the help of a neighbourhood boy, and Harold and Edie’s daughter, the humans and the appliances must come together to outwit the Grid before they lose everything they hold dear. . .

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Warning: this book will tug on your heartstrings. 

Set in the near future when everyone lives in smart houses, cars drive themselves and travel for pleasure is banned, we follow Scout, a precocious and inquisitive vacuum cleaner who lives in a house owned by elderly couple Harold and Edie. But Edie is sick, and as she lays dying avid bookworm Harold reads to her from To Kill a Mockingbird. Scout is transfixed by the book and begins to crave human interaction, which is prohibited unless initiated by humans. But Scout isn’t deterred. Then, after Edie’s death the appliances learn that the omnipresent Grid, which monitors every household, is planning to turf Harold out of his home of five decades, Scout is determined to take action. So she and the appliances team up with a neighbourhood boy and Harold’s daughter, Kate, to try and outsmart the Grid and save Harold’s home.

Heartwarming, moving, uplifting, quirky and imaginative, this is a charming story. A tearjerker filled with joy and kindness, this enthralling novel is a love letter to books and an exploration of grief and the power of connection. I love a quirky story so I knew this was right up my street. I have no idea how Glenn Powell came up with the idea of a story told by a sentient vacuum cleaner, but I’m glad he did because this was a delight from start to finish. Beautifully wrought, the story is woven with grief, longing and connection, reminding us of the joy and pain that comes with being human. It’s an emotional read but I adored every moment I was reading it.

I loved Scout. She pulled me in immediately and I could have read a hundred more stories from her point of view. I loved her eagerness to learn, to forge connections and her feisty character. The interactions between her and the other appliances were entertaining and I loved how vivid all of their personalities were. I love stories about elderly characters so I loved Harold and Edie, even if they did break my heart. The other characters were as richly drawn and I loved the mystery that Kate’s character added to the story.

Add this weird and wonderful book to your TBR now!

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Faber for the invitation to take part in the blog tour and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Glenn Dixon is an author, documentary film maker and musician.

His new book, The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances is out now in nine countries, from the U.K. and the U.S. to Canada as well as Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Greece and China. It features Scout, a Roomba vacuum cleaner who, with the other sentient appliances in a house in the near future, must band together to save their humans from being evicted. His third book Juliet’s Answer was a National Best seller and has been published in twelve countries and translated into German, Spanish and Chinese. His fourth book Bootleg Stardust about a rock band in the 1970’s featured a soundtrack.

He has traveled through 75 countries and written for the New Yorker, National Geographic, the Walrus, the New York Post and the Globe and Mail. He is currently at work on a new novel.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers on the tour.

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: The Colour of Home by Tammye Huf

Published July 2nd, 2026 by Bantam
Historical Fiction, Romance Novel, Southern Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A compelling and moving historical love story exploring the untold impact of segregation during WW2, for fans of The Women by Kristen Hannah and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

‘You want to risk everything – for a country that’s never cared if you live or die?’

1941: In a segregated Florida town, three young Black men enlist to fight for a freedom they’ve never known at home.

Before they leave, Cora marries in haste to secure her future – but her heart remains divided between the man she wed and the man she truly loves.

1945: As war finally ends, everything shifts. The boys Cora knew return as men she barely recognises, carrying scars no one can see – and truths that threaten to unravel everything Cora has fought to hold together.

Set against the backdrop of war where Black men and women weren’t allowed to be heroes, comes a powerful, deeply moving novel about love, sacrifice and the epic resilience of the human spirit.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Florida, 1941. In the segregated south, three Black men sign up to fight for their country, determined to fight for the freedom they have never enjoyed. With her brother, secret sweetheart and friend all going to war, Cora is terrified. And when her brother, Benny, comes up with a solution to secure her future, she goes against her heart and agrees. But when the men return they are unrecognisable and carrying invisible scars that haunt their days and nights. And Cora must finally confront the reality of the decision she made before they went to war. 

Powerful, immersive, affecting, tense and enthralling, I lost myself in this book. Magnificently written, wonderfully descriptive and exquisitely crafted, Tammye Huf held me in her thrall. A story that packs a strong emotional punch, it is easily one of the best books I’ve read this year. Steeped in meticulously researched historic detail that has inspired characters drawn from the real-life stories of her own family, this is a story woven with love, grief, longing and rage that will stay with me. 

One of my favourite eras to read about is WW2 and I admit I know little about the realities of life for Black men and women in America during that time. So I was excited to read this book and learn more. The novel thrums with the tempestuous atmosphere of war and segregation; the darkness of prejudice like a cloak over every page. And Huf spares the reader nothing in her vivid descriptions of the brutal horror of prejudice, bringing home the harrowing and raw truth of what Black men and women endured at the hands of racists.

The story is filled with charismatic and unforgettable characters who I loved reading. As hate festered, they refused to accept the helplessness that was being forced upon them to stand up, be counted and evoke change. But I admit, Cora was my favourite. She is an inspirational woman and I loved watching as she found her moxie and began to fight and make a real difference in the world. We need more people like her and I am so glad Ms. Huf allowed me to get to know her through this story.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you to Insta Book Tours for the invitaiton to take part in this blog tour and to Bantam for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Originally from the US, Tammye has lived in the UK with her husband and three kids for the last twenty years. Since earning her BA from Wellesly College, she has worked as a teacher, copywriter and translator. Her debut novel, A More Perfect Union, was published in 2020 and won the Diverse Book Award; it was also listed for The Times and The Sunday Times‘ Best Historical Fiction Novel, and selected as a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: The Castle of Stories by Matt Cain

Published May 21st, 2026 by Pansy
Romance Novel, Domestic Fiction, LGBTQ Literature, Gay Fiction, Literary Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Stories don’t always unfold the way you expect them to…

When 45-year-old Adam inherits a rundown farmhouse and castle in Tuscany from a great uncle he didn’t know existed, he quits his job in Manchester to renovate the property. He’s thrilled his boyfriend of two years, newly divorced and out-of-the-closet Theo, is joining him. But Theo’s ex-wife says she can’t take their children for the summer, so they come too. As the temperature rises, so does the tension. The kids are hostile to Adam, immune to the beauty of the rural location – and scared of the resident lizards.

As Adam explores the crumbling walls of the castle and sorts through his uncle’s possessions, he discovers some dark family secrets. But could they finally allow him to break free from the pain of the past, start building a new family and open a life of queer joy?

THE CASTLE OF STORIES is a moving, heartwarming and uplifting novel about modern family in all its forms, what it means to love, and the importance of understanding your own story.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

“Just because something has been your story for a long time doesn’t mean it had to be forever.”

Uplifting, witty, heartfelt and moving, I absolutely adored this glorious second-chance romance. Italy is my favourite place in the world and I am already a fan of Matt Cain’s storytelling, so I couldn’t wait to lose myself in this book. It was everything I’d hoped for and more. Brimming with love, laughter, tension and secrets, Matt held me in the palm of his hand from start to finish. A love story wrapped within a love story, this book will pull on your heart strings, make you laugh, make you angry and fill you with joy. And that ending was so beautiful.

The story follows Adam Webb, who is shocked to discover that he has inherited a run down farmhouse and castle in Tuscany from a great uncle he didn’t even know existed. After traveling to Italy with his boyfriend, Theo and falling in love with Castello Montemango, Adam quits his job and the couple make plans to spend the summer renovating the property. But the couple’s idyllic summer plans come crashing down when Theo’s ex-wife tells him she can’t take their three children this summer and he’ll have to take them to Italy. While the youngest child, Archie, gets on well with Adam, the two teenagers are openly hostile and unimpressed that they are being forced to spend the summer in a run-down house with no Wi-Fi. Further complications arise when Adam comes across some letters whilst sorting through his uncle’s possessions and discovers a dark family secret. Can Adam uncover the truth and finally deal with the heartache he’s tried to bury for decades?

This was the perfect escapist summer read. Evocatively written, it transported me from my back garden in Derbyshire to Tuscany so vividly I could feel the heat on my skin, see the cypress trees, smell the ripe tomatoes and taste the gelato. Also leaping from the pages were the charismatic, messy and compelling characters. Adam is a great protagonist. He’s flawed, riddled with insecurities, but he’s also kind and just wants a happy-ever-after with Theo. I loved him and Theo together and could relate to their problems trying to blend their family. Matt brings truth and relatability to this part of the story, perfectly capturing the heartache, joy and stress of trying to build a relationship with a partner’s children, especially when teenage hormones and spiteful exes are involved. But my favourite characters have to be Adam’s sisters (his trio of friends). These gals are a hoot and lit up any page they were on. I could have read an entire book about their exploits (idea for a spin off maybe?).

But while there is fun, the story also explores some serious topics, including grief, trauma, self-confidence, empathy and homophobia. Matt writes with honesty, compassion and pride, educating his reader about the harrowing things the LGBTQ+ community have been forced to endure while reminding us of the power of love and kindness.

A gorgeous and heartwarming summer read, this is a must for your TBR.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Pansy and Random Things Tours for my complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Matt Cain writes humorous, riveting and uplifting novels about self-discovery and self-love.

Born in Bury and brought up in Bolton, Matt was a gay child in the 1980s, a time when boys like him were widely hated. He also had a little-known health condition which meant his heart cut out several times a week. Feeling like a freak, he channelled a fierce desire to prove himself into his schoolwork, then a series of high-profile media jobs – as a documentary director for ITV, arts correspondent on Channel 4 News and editor of Attitude magazine – before pursuing his dream of writing fiction. But he had to battle through ten years of rejection and crowdfund his breakthrough novel, The Madonna of Bolton. He’s since become the author of several bestsellers, including The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle, Becoming Ted, One Love and Game On, a Quick Read and one of the official short novels of World Book Night 2024.

At the age of 37, doctors finally worked out what was wrong with Matt’s heart and installed a pacemaker to stop it cutting out. At the age of 44, he bucked decades of romantic failure when he went on a Tinder date and met Harry Glasstone, whom he married in 2022. Matt and Harry now present their own show on Virgin Radio Pride and live in London with their cat Nelly, possibly the best loved pet in the world.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: Bad Influence by Will Carver

Published June 18th, 2026 by Orenda Books
Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Dark Comedy

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Two bored, obsessed teenagers break into and secretly live in influencers’ houses. But when they choose the wrong home, their twisted experiment turns deadly. A darkly funny, breathtakingly tense thriller from ‘one of the most original writers in Britain’ (Daily Express).

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Two bored teenagers.
One stupid game.
The wrong place to play…

Alyssa wants to be seen. Less wants to be someone. She takes two buses to class, posts pictures of her lunch, and pretends it’s all effortless. He hides his privilege beneath thrifted clothes and a sketchbook full of impossible designs. Together, they are inseparable – two outsiders constructing a version of themselves the world might finally applaud.

Then Alyssa stumbles upon the hidden world of phrogging – living unnoticed inside other people’s homes. She and Less slip through Los Angeles’ glossy veneer: influencers, producers, pop stars, all so busy performing their perfect lives they don’t notice the shadows in their attics, the scratching in their walls.

An act of rebellion. A harmless thrill. A social experiment.

Until they choose the wrong house.
Until the influencer they idolise catches them in the act.
Until the cameras, already rolling, capture everything.

What begins as a reckless adventure becomes a nightmare of lies, power … and murder…

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

All the stars for the latest, mind-blowing thriller from Will Carver! 

Alyssa and Less are two bored teenagers from opposite worlds. Alyssa’s family are poor, spends her spare time caring for her grandmother with dementia, and just wants to be seen. Less is from a rich family, is ignored by his parents and wants to make a name for himself. Despite their differences the pair are inseparable. And when Alyssa discovers phrogging – the act of secretly living in someone else’s home without their knowledge – she introduces it to Less and the pair embark on a dangerous game that spirals out of control…

Will Carver has done it again. Suspenseful, surprising, and totally unpredictable, this book blew me away. Exquisitely written, cleverly plotted and  intricately interwoven, Will had me in the palm of his hands from start to finish. He builds the story slowly, lulling you into a false sense of security before pulling the rug out from under you with a twist that will make your jaw hit the floor. I was literally sitting with my mouth hanging open wondering where on earth the story could go from here. I knew there was no chance of me sleeping now until I knew what happened and I devoured it in one sitting. It was a wild ride but I loved every second and it was totally worth losing sleep for.

I’ve been a proud member of the Carver Cult for many years and Will’s books are always a highlight in my reading year. He is one of the most unique voices in fiction today and I know I can always rely on him to deliver a story that is timely, entertaining, full of scathing social commentary and great characters. Bad Influence lives up to that reputation, taking us behind the curtain of the world of influencing. Everyone in this book is flawed and they commit some terrible acts, but some are more likeable than others. I liked Alyssa and Less and found them easy to root for despite their illegal deeds. Paige was likeable at first but when the twist hit at the end of chapter one it changed everything and she unsettled me from that moment on. 

A must-read for any thriller lover. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part in this tour and to Orenda Books for sending me a proof copy in exchage for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Will Carver is the international bestselling author of the January David series and the critically acclaimed, mind-blowingly original Detective Pace series, which includes Good Samaritans (2018), Nothing Important Happened Today (2019) and Hinton Hollow Death Trip (2020), all of which were ebook bestsellers and selected as books of the year in the mainstream international press. Nothing Important Happened Today was longlisted for both the Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award 2020 and the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award. Hinton Hollow Death Trip was longlisted for the Guardian’s Not the Booker Prize, and was followed by the literary thrillers, The Beresford, Psychopaths Anonymous, The Daves Next Door, Suicide Thursday and Upstairs at the Beresford. Will spent his early years in Germany, but returned to the UK at age eleven, when his sporting career took off. He and his partner run their own fitness and nutrition company, and live in Reading with five children and a tortoise.

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Thank you for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.